We are only a few days from Christmas, and you can already tell this year it is going be different. So much has transpired in the last twelve months, and a lot has changed for Crossroads. While it has not all been good, most of it has been a blessing to see happening. In the wake of last year, there is no doubt that we, as a congregation, are growing again.
If you were in church Sunday, you witnessed this firsthand. If you missed Sunday, you lost an opportunity to see God at work. It is not that anything “miraculous” happened, but that one could feel the presence of God and of pure joy. Of course, not everyone felt it, but most did. Everything blended together, the music, the preaching, and the attitudes. There was an alignment of purpose that made the whole service special.
As I said in my message, this past year has been challenging for me as a preacher and church as a whole. However I believe we have come through the difficulties as more focused and dedicated congregation. We have made needed changes and remained committed to seeing them through to completion. Our direction is set and we are seeing the results each and every week.
This is not to say that everything is great and that no more work needs to be done. Our community is still dealing with unemployment, financial struggles, and with the effects these have on individuals and families. Our congregation has been touched by these as well. As never before, we need to be faithful stewards of all the resources God provides us as individuals and as a congregation. As leaders and ministry coordinators, we will need to spend every dime for maximum impact in fulfilling our mission.
We must not forget that even in the midst of difficult, GOD IS WITH US! He did not bring us this far to abandon us. He has positioned, prepared, and provided for us to reach the lost in this community. This Christmas should mark more than another year to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It also marks the beginning of a new season of growth for our church.
My wife and I are proud and humble to serve this congregation at this time. We are eager to see what God has in store for His Church in the coming year. We wish you and your family a merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.
